Folding cylinder blade adjusting mechanism



Jan. 6, 1953 c. A. HARLESS FOLDING CYLINsER BLADE ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 19, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Jan. 6, 1953 c. A. HARLESS 2,624,572

FOLDING CYLINDER BLADE ADJUSTING MDCHANISM Filed Nov. 19, 1948 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 2'; '74 /l/ INVENToR.

Patented Jan. 6, 1953 FOL'ING CYLINDER BLADE ADJUSTING MECHANISM Charles A. Harless, Riverside, Conn., assigner to R. Hoe & Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 19, 1948, Serial No. 61,009

13 claims.

This invention relates to folding cylinders for printing machines.

The general object of the invention isl to provide improved mechanism for adjusting the folding blades of a folding cylinder.

With this general object and more specific objects which will appear from the following full description in mind, the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts and details of construction which will now rst` be fully described with reference tothe accompanying drawing, and will then be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a folding cylinder and associated parts and is taken on the line I-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;.

Figure 3 is a view in plan of part of the mechanism of Figure4 1, certain parts being removed to show the construction morev clearly;

Figure 4 is an end View of part. of the mechanism of Figure l;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a part of Figure l; l K

Figure 6 is a section on the line i-S of Fig.- ure 5,; and

Figure 7 is a section similar to Figure 6, but showing the parts in a differentv position of adjustment.

The elements cooperating with a folding cylinder of the type disclosed hereinas well as the specic construction and mode of operation of the various mechanismsof the cylinder are well known in the art, being shown for exampla in Halliwell Patent No.1,f722,7l5, and will be referred to herein only to the extent necessary for a full understanding ofthe present invention.

Referring now to Figures l and 2, the folding cylinder comprises a body I fixed to a shaft 2, which is rotatably journaled in frame members carried by shafts B which are journaled in antiable gearing, as usual. The folding blades 5 are carried by shafts t wihch are journaled' in antifriction bearings in bearing plates l and 8 as indicated. Except as prevented by the mechanism described below, plates l' and 8 are free to turn on the shaft 2 and with relation to the body I' which is fixed to it. In the cylinder shown in Figures 1 and 2, there are two folding bladeshafts 6, and these are driven by means of planet gears IIJ. which mesh with a stationary internal ring gear ly I. and thus are driven when the shaft 2 and the parts carried thereby rotate.

A pair of shafts l5 are carried in anti-friction bearings in the cylinder, and preferably by body I. as shown in Figure 1, and serve to couple the' plates 1 and 8 to the body I for rotation therewith and also to adjust the angular position of the plates with relation to the body I'. For this purpose, each shaft I5 carries on each of its ends an eccentric I8 (Figures 1, 5 and 6) which operates in a block I'I which, in turn, is slidably carried in a rectangular opening I8 within the plate 'I orS as the case may be. The blocks I'l are permitted to slide in the radial direction (up and down in Figures 5 and 6) but are held in the plates 'l and 8 against sliding in the circumferential direction. Rotation of the eccentric I6 by means of shaft I5 will accordingly shift the plate I or 8, as the case may be, circumferentially with relation to the axis of the shaft I5 to a position such as indicated in Figure '7' or to any other desired position within the range of adjustment provided. Rotation of the shaft I5 in the opposite direction willv shift the plates I and 8, similarly but in the opposite direction. If shafts I5 are held against rotation relativelyto the body I', the plates 'I and 8 will also be held in their adjusted position.

Cam connections for turning the shafts I5 to advance or retard the plates Iy and 8 relative to the body I` and for holding them in adjusted position are provided' and' includev a yoke 2 rotatably and slidably mounted on theshaft 2 and movable axially thereof by mechanism described below'. The yoke 20' has a pair of arms 2`I which carry quick-acting helical nuts 22, the nutsl being fixed to the arms so' asv to prevent rotation, andV cooperating with mating quick-acting screws 23 fixed to the ends of shafts I5 and extending through the nuts 22. As the yoke is moved axially ofthe cylinder (to the right or left of Figure 1) it will bev prevented from rotating with relation to the body I byL reason of the engagement of the nuts 22" and' screws 23'. The nuts 22, being held lagainst rotation by the arms 2 I, will accordingly -turn the screws 2-3' and the shafts I5' to which they are attached. This turning of the shafts I5 causes the plates I and 8 to be advanced orretarded as before described. The advancing o-r retarding" of the plates also advances or retards the movement of the folding. blade shafts B, thus adjusting the fold in' the usual way.

The yoke 20`is slid backward and forward by a non-rotating. collar 24 connected'to it by means of a ball bearing 2 5 which permits relative rotation of the yoke 20v while coupling it to the collar for movement along the shaft 2. Racl'is 26 are attached to the collar 24 and are in mesh with gear sectors 21 which are carried by a cross shaft 28. Cross shaft 28 in turn carries a worm wheel section 29 which meshes with a Worm 30 operated by means of a shaft 3| and hand wheel 32. As will be apparent, turning the worm 30 by means of the hand wheel 32 will also turn the worm wheel sector 29 and the shaft 28 to which it is attached, and the gear sectors attached to the shaft 28 will move the racks 26 axially of the cylinder, the direction of movement corresponding to the direction of rotation of the hand wheel 32. Collar 24 attached to the racks 26 will accordingly move the yoke 20 inwardly or outwardly from the body l, thus advancing or retarding the plates 'l and 8 as desired for adjusting the angular position of the folding blades with relation to the cylinder body and other mechanisms carried thereby.

It will be observed that shafts I and-,the parts carried thereby as well as the yoke and the parts carried by the yoke are placed symmetrically about the axis of the shaft 2 so that balance of the cylinder is maintained in all positions of adjustment. Also, the frictional resistance which is introduced is merely that of the ball bearing 25, and, since the pressure on this bearing in any position of adjustment is negligible, the parts are subject to substantially no wear and hence any tendency to create looseness in continued operation is eliminated. While the quick-acting nut and screw arrangement 22 and 23 is preferred, the invention in its broader aspects contemplates the use of any cam connection capable of converting the sliding movement of the yoke 20 into a rotary movement of the shafts I5.

What is claimed is:

l. In a folding cylinder 0f the type comprising a cylinder body, a drive shaft therefor, a relatively rotatable bearing plate at each end of they cylinder body and mounted for rotation about its axis, folding blades mounted on second shafts journaled in the bearing plates and planetary pinions carried by the second shafts for rotating the same, and in combination, a pair of third shafts journaled in the cylinder body, extending longitudinally thereof and disposed symmetrically about its axis, means carried by each third shaft and engaging the bearing plates at each end thereof for moving the same angularly about the cylinder axis with relation to the cylinder body, a yoke surrounding and mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the drive shaft, a cam connection between the yoke and each of the pair of third shafts for turning the latter as the yoke is moved, and said cam connections comprising a pair of cooperating cam elements, one carried by and rigid with the yoke and the other carried by and rigid with the said third shaft, a non-rotating operating member foi` moving the yoke, and an anti-friction bearing connecting the last said member with the yoke for moving the yoke while permitting rotation thereof.

2. The combination according to claim l, in which the operating member comprises a collar surrounding the cylinder shaft and supported by means of the anti-friction bearing which connects it to the yoke.

3. The combination according t0 claim 2, in which the collar carries racks extending backwardly along the cylinder shaft and at opposite sides thereof, and comprising also rotatably adjustable gear elements in mesh with the racks for adjusting the position of the collar.

4. Th-e combination according toclaim 3, com- 4 prising worm and worm wheel mechanism for rotatably adjusting the gear means in mesh with the racks.

5. The combination according to claim 1, in which the means engaging the bearing plates for moving them angularly about the cylinder axis comprise eccentrics carried by the said pair of Shafts and cooperating means carried by the bearing plates in engagement with the eccentrics.

6. The combination according to claim l, in which the means engaging the bearing plates for moving them angularly about the cylinder axis comprise eccentrics carried on the said pair of third shafts and blocks receiving the eccentrics and mounted in the bearing plates for radial movement with respect thereto.

7. The combination according to claim 1, in which the cam connection between the yoke and each of the pair of third shafts comprises a quickacting nut carried by one of the elements and a quick acting screw carried by the other.

8. The combination according to claim 7, in which the nut is carried by the yoke, and the screw is carried by the shaft and passes through the nut.

9. In a folding cylinder comprising a cylinder body, a drive shaft therefor, a relatively rotatable bearing plate at each end of the cylinder body and mounted for rotation about its axis, folding blades mounted on second shafts journaled in the bearing plates and planetary pinions carried by the shafts for rotating the same, and in combination, an adjusting shaft journaled in the cylinder body and extending longitudinally theref of, eccentric blocks slidably mounted in the bearing plates for movement radially thereof, eccentrics carried by the adjusting shaft at each end thereof and engaging in the eccentric blocks for adjusting the angular position of the bearing plates about the cylinder axis, a member mounted for rotation with the cylinder body and for sliding movement longitudinally of the drive shaft, a cam connection between the said member and the adjusting shaft for turning the latter as the member is moved, a non-rotating member for moving the first said member, and an anti-friction bearing connecting the two said members for moving the first said member while permitting rotation thereof.

10. In a folding cylinder comprising a cylinder body, a drive shaft therefor, a relatively rotatable bearing plate at each end of the cylinder body and mounted for rotation about its axis, folding blades mounted on shafts journaled in the bearing plates and planetary pinions carried by the shafts for rotating the same, and in combination, a pair of adjusting shafts juornaled in the cylinder and extending longitudinally thereof and disposed symmetrically about its axis, eccentric connections between the cylinder body and the bearing plates and comprising eccentrics carried by the adjusting shafts for movement therewith, and means for rotatably adjusting the adjusting shafts for advancing and retarding the bearing plates with relation to the cylinder body.

11. The combination according to claim l0, in which the adjusting shafts are journaled in the cylinder body and carry eccentrics engaging in the bearing plates.

12. The combination according to claim 10, in which a yoke slidable along the adjusting shafts is provided for rotatably adjusting the same, and is connected thereto and slidably supported thereon by means of cam connections for turning the shafts as the yoke is moved.

13. In a folding cylinder comprising a cylinder body, a drive shaft therefor, a relatively rotatable bearing plate at each end of the cylinder body and mounted for rotation about its axis, folding blades mounted on shafts journaled in the bearing plates and planetary pinions carried by the shafts for rotating the same, and in combination, means for advancing and retarding the bearing plates with relation to the cylinder body and actuating mechanism therefor comprising a yoke surrounding the drive shaft slidable therealong and rotatable with the cylinder, a collar slidable along the drive shaft; and held from rotation therewith, and an anti-friction bearing connecting the yoke and collar for sliding the yoke while permitting it to rotate, and means operable by the yoke for moving the bearing plates in accordance with the sliding movement of the yoke.

CHARLES A. HARLEss. zo

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,722,745 Halliwell July 30, 1929 1,850,802 Langston et al Mar. 22, 1932 1,973,058 Gangler Sept. 11, 1934 2,093,233 Dean Sept. 14, 1937 2,093,234 Dean Sept. 14, 1937 2,093,235 Dean Sept. 14, 1937 2,093,253 Schmidt Sept. 14, 1937 2,425,218 Worthington Aug. 5, 1947 2,425,914 Blackley et al Aug. 19, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 168,632 Great Britain Sept. 6, 1921 

